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Sara Phelan, Author, Speaker, AI Strategist and Business Growth Advisor

AI Workshops and Keynotes for Small Business Communities

Practical, non-technical sessions that help business owners use AI with clearer priorities, stronger guardrails, and less tool chaos.

Strategic AI adoption for small business leaders includes evaluating readiness, setting guardrails, and optimizing workflow. 

Founder, Entrepreneur, former Business Broker and certified Business Coach, Sara Phelan shares her Evalu8 Framework for identifying opportunities, lessons learned and easy to use tools to help set small business owners up for success, before the tools. 

Structure First. Then AI.

 

By the Numbers

20+
Years in Small Business Leadership as Founder, Broker (selling SMEs) , Author, Coach, Strategic Advisor and Mentor for companies in growth /export or planning an exit.
1000's
of Small Businesses (virtual and in-person), over 16 years have used the Evalu8 framework for clarity and strategic decisions in 5 provinces and over 20 countries. (That we know of)
10
AI Workshops centered around small business needs for starting and succeeding with AI. A leadership conversation that is not really negotiable anymore.

Talks and Workshops

Trusted by leading organizations and partners including:

Modern Office AI Strategy Meeting

AI for Business Owners

Where to start and what to skip in order have AI working for you. 

A clear starting point for business owners who know AI matters but do not want to waste time chasing tools.

Participants identify 2 to 3 practical use cases and learn how to avoid the mistakes that create risk, confusion, or poor-quality outputs.

Best for:
Webinars, podcasts, business associations, beginner-friendly AI sessions.

Olga Bindutiye

Program Coordinator
ictc

You were amazing! Your content, delivery, and empathy jumped through the screen and into our hearts.  Here's a quote from one attendee who completed our survey: 

"Sara’s presentation was amazing and I look forward to implementing some of the strategies she shared."

AI

The AI-Ready CEO

Guardrails, governance, and team rules

A leadership-focused session for businesses already using AI in pockets. Participants learn how to set simple do and do-not rules, decide what stays human-led, and create clearer team expectations before AI use spreads further.

It's a leadership conversation on how to use Gen AI to make better decisions and get started.  

Best for:
Leadership teams, advisory groups, founders, owner-led businesses.

Quote posts (69)

Evalu8 Your Business

Use AI as the investor lens for better decisions.

A business clarity session that helps owners spot gaps across the 8 core areas of the business. Participants learn how to separate noise from priority and choose the next best moves based on impact on you business value, risk, and readiness.

This conversations is all about getting the business out  of your head and into something that AI or a new buyer can use. 

Best for:
Growth programs, strategic planning succession, exit planing, business owners feeling stretched.

Tony robbins said"Ai is useless unless you know what questions to ask."

Evalu8 + Grow with AI

8-Part Series

A practical AI training series for small business owners and teams. Each session helps participants understand where AI fits, where it does not, and how to use it with clearer priorities, guardrails, and next steps.

Virtual. Each session can be stand alone. 

Facilitated as (8) Workshops or Lunch and Learn (45- min) webinar format, including Q&A. 

Best for:
Chambers, accelerators, innovation programs, small business groups.

Find the Series details here

"I would highly recommend Sara to any organization looking for a knowledgeable AI strategist, facilitator, or advisor who can bridge the gap between emerging technology and practical business application."

James Savard,  Ignite AI Program Lead
IION, Innovation Initiatives Ontario North 

Strategic AI Coaching for Business Owners

 

"Working with Sara on our eight-part Evalu8 + Grow with AI Lunch & Learn series was a great experience.

She brought a thoughtful, practical delivery that made AI approachable for business leaders, regardless of their level of experience. Her presentations were engaging, well organized, and packed with actionable insights participants could immediately apply in their organizations.

The series attracted strong attendance from businesses across our regions and was consistently well received. Participants valued Sara’s ability to explain complex concepts in a clear, business-focused way. The interactive format also encouraged meaningful discussion and engagement.

Beyond being an exceptional presenter, Sara was a true partner throughout the project. She collaborated closely on communications, promotional materials, session planning, and participant engagement, always looking for ways to improve the experience." 

Let's connect and talk about how we can bring this conversation forward to your business community.

Book an AI Readiness Call with Sara

 

Collaboration is the strength behind our network, this includes:

Sara Phelan, Ai and Growth advisor for Small Business

About Sara

In a rapidly changing world, Sara Phelan is the go-to expert for businesses looking to align innovation with execution. As a business strategist, certified executive coach, award-winning entrepreneur, and former business broker, Sara has spent over 20 years helping leaders transform challenges into opportunities.

Known for her straightforward, practical approach, Sara’s Evalu8 Framework gives business owners the tools to assess, prioritize, and build a clear path to sustainable growth. Her expertise spans industries from Professional Services to Manufacturing and Startups, her passion for harnessing AI-driven insights empowers leaders to confidently embrace innovation and get set up for success.

Book Sara for your next event to inspire your audience and leave them with practical tools business skills for success. 

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